To provide a multi-stage centrifugal pump to operate with a low specific speed.

A handling fluid discharged through a diffuser 30a and a communication passage 32a of a front stage centrifugal pump 12a is discharged through a return passage 34a as one pipe-form passage toward the suction port of a second stage centrifugal pump 12b. The change in the section area of the return passage 34a is less, and the loss in this part is reduced. Because the return passage 34a is arranged in dislocation from the drive shaft 16, the fluid forms a vortex, which prevents a drop of the pressure in the reverse side part of the drive shaft 16. The flow of the fluid sucked into the next stage pump 12b is made uniform thereby, to reduce the loss.